Usman Khawaja. (Photo Source: Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has opted against wearing shoes bearing messages related to the situation in Palestine during the first Test against Pakistan, as confirmed by team captain Pat Cummins. He was spotted having handwritten slogans “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” on his footwear during practice sessions this week, Khawaja decided not to sport them during the match.
This choice aligns with the regulations set by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which explicitly prohibits any political, religious, or racial messages during matches. Cummins addressed the media, emphasising Khawaja might not be aware of these guidelines and he doesn’t want to make a big commotion about the same.
“I spoke to him just quickly and he said he won’t be. Uzzie doesn’t want to make too big of a fuss.” Cummins said while addressing the media as quoted TOI.
Khawaja, who hails from Pakistan and follows the Muslim faith, had previously shared a video from UNICEF on Instagram, expressing his concerns about the humanitarian situation in Palestine. In his post, he raised questions about the disregard for innocent lives based on factors like skin colour or religion.
MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali also fell under ICC guidelines’ radar
Cricket Australia had reiterated its support for players expressing personal views while urging compliance with the ICC’s strict regulations governing messages and symbols during international matches. However, this incident draws parallels to the 2014 ban imposed on England all-rounder Moeen Ali for wearing wristbands with messages advocating for Gaza and Palestine during a home Test, showcasing the ICC’s consistent stance against political expressions during matches.
The adherence to these regulations was evident in previous incidents as well, such as during the ICC World Cup 2019 when former India captain MS Dhoni was denied permission to wear gloves with the Indian Army insignia embossed on them. Despite a written request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), ICC upheld its rules disallowing the display of such symbols on the field.